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Pistachio growers advise consumers on FDA recall

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) re-issued a warning this week regarding recalled pistachios distributed by Orca Distribution due to possible Salmonella contamination.

This is not a new recall, but FDA inspected Orca as part of an audit of an earlier recall. FDA said it found that products subject to Setton Pistachio's recall earlier this year had been repacked and distributed by Orca under the California Prime Produce and Orange County Orchards brands.

Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people and others with weakened immune systems, can spread through contact from contaminated agriculture equipment.

The Western Pistachio Association (WPA) said today it does not condone any entity that knowingly shipped recalled product or withheld information related to the product recalls.

WPA said the vast majority of pistachio brands and pistachio products are not involved with the previously announced precautionary pistachio recall. About 2 million pounds of pistachios were recalled representing less than one percent of the total 2008 harvest amount.